If betting on WWE matches becomes legal, it could potentially lead to changes in how matches are scripted and the outcomes determined. In fact, WWE legalizing betting will affect top stars in a huge way.
On Wednesday, CNBC reported WWE was in talks with state gambling regulators in Colorado and Michigan to legalize betting on high-profile matches. This was met with mass confusion.
The promotion has already registered with the Indiana Gaming Commission in a related move to legalize betting on matches. That being said, the Colorado Division of Gaming has stated that it is not currently considering or planning to allow sports betting on WWE matches.
A spokesperson for the division explained that Colorado currently has a statute in place that prohibits bets on events with predicted or fixed outcomes, such as the Academy Awards. Therefore, it is not possible for WWE betting to be legal in Colorado at this time.
WWE has enlisted the help of accounting firm Ernst & Young (EY) to ensure the security of scripted match results, in order to convince regulators that there is no chance of leaks to the public. EY and other firms such as PwC have a history of working with award shows like the Academy Awards and the Emmys to keep results confidential. It remains to be seen how effective this measure will be in persuading regulators to allow betting on WWE matches.
Follow Corey at @CoreyBrennanBS on Twitter
If you enjoy Bodyslam’s content, you can help donate to the site here. You can also visit our PWTees store and buy Bodyslam official merchandise here.
You can listen to all of Bodyslam’s podcasts by following us on Spotify and subscribing to our YouTube Channel, or any of your favorite podcast platforms.ⓘⓘⓘⓘⓘⓘⓘⓘⓘⓘ
